Bomb blast hit army hospital in central Bangkok, injuring 25

**BANGKOK, May 22 (APD) ** -- A blast hit an army hospital in central Bangkok on Monday, injuring 25, police said.

The blast went off at around 11 a.m. local time when a loud explosion heard from the dispensary room of Phramongkutklao Hospital, police said.

The injured waiting to receive medicine, most of which are retired army officials, were showered with broken window glass, according to local media.

Among the 25 injured, three were under close monitoring in the hospital, according to officials.

Deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul told media that the blast was caused by a bomb.

He confirmed that police has found an integrated circuit timer, pieces of wires and a battery. He surmised that the bomb intended to make an untoward situation with minor collateral damage.

Local media said the bomb was contained in a PVC pipe and planted inside a vase in the hospital room ''Wongsuwan'', named after the last name of Deputy Prime Minister/Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

The police are yet to find more clues from footages of CCTV cameras installed in and around the room to pinpoint a suspected perpetrator of the bombing incident.

This has been the third blast in Bangkok in the past two months. On April 5, a blast hit buildings at the Government Lottery Office,injured two. Another explosion a week ago went off in front of the National Theatre.

No bombing suspects have been arrested as yet, either in the event of the blast outside the National Theater or that outside a nearby former Government Lottery Office, both of which saw a few passers-by slightly injured.

May 22 marks the third anniversary of 2014's coup when the junta toppled Yingluck's government and came into power.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)